Distributing Alternatively Generated Power to a Real Estate Development

ABSTRACT

A system for distributing alternatively generated power to a real estate development having at least two individual properties includes at least one alternative energy power generator. A distribution station is coupled to the at least one alternative energy power generator. A plurality of real estate properties are coupled to the distribution station. A written instrument associates ownership rights in a portion of the power received from the alternative energy power generator with ownership of at least one of the plurality of real estate properties. A method includes providing a plurality of real estate properties and an alternative energy power generator that forms a cooperative power farm coupled to a distribution station. A credit of power provided from the cooperative power farm to the distribution station is metered. Rights to a portion of the metered credit are included with ownership of at least one of the plurality of real estate properties.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/079,978, filed on Jul. 11, 2008, entitled“Distributing Alternatively Generated Power to a Real EstateDevelopment,” the entire contents of which are incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to the areaof alternative energy distribution, ownership, billing, or the like, andmore specifically, to distributing alternatively generated power to oneor more real estate development projects or areas.

Currently, energy costs have been escalating. A residence that is atleast partially self-sufficient is a benefit both economically andenvironmentally. Often, alternative energy installations includeunsightly equipment, but to tie the source to the residence, theequipment must be incorporated into the residence or co-located on theresidence lot or real estate parcel.

Additionally, when an alternative energy generator installation islocated on a home, its efficiency may be reduced because of surroundingbuildings, topography, or the direction in which the home faces. To makesuch an installation efficient, it might also be necessary to deforestthe lot. If a single story home having solar panels installed issurrounded by two story homes or trees, shadowing may occur which wouldreduce efficiency, or the roof sides may not face the best direction toaccumulate the solar energy. The structure may also have to be modifiedto handle the additional load of the panels.

Additionally, neighbors often complain or seek to block the installationof alternative energy generators for aesthetic reasons, noise generatedby certain types of systems, or the fear that such systems pose a healthor safety hazard in the event of malfunction.

Maintenance may prove to be problematic due to the fact that solarpanels are typically installed on a roof, which is high off of theground and may prove hazardous. Installations of alternative energygenerators are also typically financially separate from the structure interms of mortgage, so that any expense would normally handled on lessfavorable terms than a mortgage loan. The cost of energy for the averageconsumer is largely driven by carbon based fuels. These same fuels arein decline and if they follow the law of supply and demand, willincrease in price as they decline in abundance, increasing the cost ofresiding in a home.

Currently, the cost for energy is at an inflation adjusted high and isexpected to remain high for the foreseeable future. This increase incost has been escalating, and a hedge against its continued increase hasbeen sought after.

In concert with the sharp rise in the cost of electricity, the values ofhomes have fallen over the last few years. As such, homeowners are verysensitive to the cost of energy associated with a home. If a residentialhomeowner could effectively purchase energy once, as part of thepurchase of the home, his ongoing costs would be reduced or eliminated,and the value of the property, which would become energy and incomeproducing, or income neutral with respect to energy costs, wouldincrease. This decrease in follow-on energy costs would make a propertymore valuable for new developments, existing neighborhoods, and offsitecooperative energy farms.

There are multiple ways to distribute alternatively generated power to areal estate development. During construction of a subdivision, adeveloper could set aside a percentage of the land to build analternative energy installation and include, in the cost of the home,rights to a percentage of the generated power that are permanently tiedto the real estate purchased. This would allow the homebuilder to toutthe subdivision as being “green” and include an ongoing supply of freeenergy. Additionally, many state and federal laws do or will requirepower utilities to purchase excess energy produced by alternative energyinstallations. These requirements add to the economic value of a givenproperty or properties that include as a permanent, transferable featurea percentage of energy production from an alternative energyinstallation. Any excess energy produced and sold could be either paidas dividends, applied to real estate taxes, common area maintenance orimprovements, homeowners' association dues, or used for alternativeenergy system maintenance.

A grid tied system is proposed as one embodiment in which thecooperative energy farm feeds directly into an energy grid and energycredits are allotted to each real estate owner whose property isentitled to the credit. In this way energy used on other parts of thegrid are offset by the energy farm and only the net usage is charged.This system also reduces the load on the existing electrical grid, whichincreases the buffer that the utilities need. The real estate propertyowner would be credited for new kilowatt hours input to the power grid.

The hurdles of separate and complex installation and maintenance,separate expense from a mortgage payment, aesthetic limitations, andinefficiencies in layout mitigate against individual installation ofalternative energy generators.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method of combining thecooperative needs of homeowners to maximize the efficiency andconcomitant economic benefit for distributing alternatively generatedpower to a real estate development, or stated another way, theassociation or linking of a cooperative energy farm to a specificresidential property, such that a continuous renewable supply ofelectricity is sold with the property. More particularly, it isdesirable to have a property that is at least partially self sufficientfrom an energy standpoint by virtue of the cooperative energy farm. Thisself-sufficiency would reduce the ongoing cost of owning the propertyand increase its net worth. This linkage of the real property and energyforms a hedge to mitigate the rising cost of energy and its effect onconsumers, especially homeowners, and protects the homeowners from thedepreciation of their real estate investment. The homeowner not onlybenefits from the normal appreciation tied to the ownership of the realestate, but also benefits from the rise in energy costs by making thevalue of the real estate increase because of the energy component.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a system fordistributing alternatively generated power to a real estate development.The real estate development has at least two individual properties. Thesystem includes at least one alternative energy power generator. Adistribution station is coupled to the at least one alternative energypower generator. A plurality of real estate properties are coupled tothe distribution station. A written instrument associates ownershiprights in a portion of the power received from the alternative energypower generator with ownership of at least one of the plurality of realestate properties.

A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a method fordistributing alternatively generated power to a real estate development.The method includes providing a plurality of real estate properties. Analternative energy power generator is provided that forms a cooperativepower farm coupled to a distribution station. A credit of power providedfrom the cooperative power farm to the distribution station is metered.Rights to a portion of the metered credit are included with ownership ofat least one of the plurality of real estate properties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a first preferredembodiment of a system for distributing alternatively generated power toa real estate development;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a second preferredembodiment of a system for distributing alternatively generated power toa real estate development;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a third preferredembodiment of a system for distributing alternatively generated power toa real estate development;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a fourth preferredembodiment of a system for distributing alternatively generated power toa real estate development;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates a first method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram that illustrates a second method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram that illustrates a third method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram that illustrates a fourth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram that illustrates a fifth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram that illustrates a sixth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram that illustrates a flow diagram of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram that illustrates an eighth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram that illustrates a ninth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram that illustrates a tenth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram that illustrates an eleventh method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram that illustrates a twelfth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram that illustrates a thirteenth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 18 is a flow diagram that illustrates a fourteenth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram that illustrates a fifteenth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 20 is a flow diagram that illustrates a sixteenth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 21 is a flow diagram that illustrates a seventeenth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram that illustrates an eighteenth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 23 is a flow diagram that illustrates a nineteenth method of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 24 is a flow diagram that illustrates a first software of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 25 is a flow diagram that illustrates a second software of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development;

FIG. 26 is a flow diagram that illustrates a third software of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development; and

FIG. 27 is a flow diagram that illustrates a fourth software of anembodiment of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With respect to the description contained herein, it is to be realizedthat all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawingsand described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by thepresent application. Therefore, the description contained herein isconsidered as illustrative only of the principles of certain preferredembodiments. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitany embodiment to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of one of the embodiments.Additionally, the words “a” and “an”, as used in the claims and in thecorresponding portions of the specification, mean “at least one.”

Referring now to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a system 100 fordistributing alternatively generated power to a real estate developmentis shown having at least one alternative energy electrical powergenerator 110, 112, 114, forming a cooperative power farm 116. A powergrid 118 receives electrical power from the cooperative power farm 116.A metering credit system 120 determines a metered credit of powerreceived by the power grid 118 from the cooperative power farm 116. Aplurality of real estate properties 122, 124, 126 are electricallycoupled to the power grid 118. Each of the real estate properties 122,124, 126 receives at least a portion of the metered credit of power, andrights to the portion of the metered credit are linked to or includedwith ownership of at least one of the plurality of real estateproperties 122, 124, 126. The power supplied by the cooperative powerfarm 116 may be supplied to a public utility grid, private power grid,or the like. The metering system 120 may be analog or digital inoperation. The real estate properties 122, 124, 126 may encompassprivate residences, townhomes, apartments, duplexes, or the like, andmay be either separate residences or agglomerated residences, such as inhigh-rises or the like. The ownership may be fee simple, condominium,co-operative in structure, or the like. The real estate may additionallyencompass non-residential properties, such as businesses, manufacturingenterprises, or the like.

The electrical power generator 110, 112, 114 may comprise one or morepower generator types, be it electrical, or other types of energy, suchas natural gas or the like, and may, for example, include at least onesolar powered generator 110 and/or at least one wind powered generator112 and/or at least one geothermal powered generator 114 or the like.Other electrical power generators such as ocean wave electricalgenerators, hydroelectric generators, or the like are also includedwithin the scope of this embodiment. The system 100 may include a powermanagement system 128 monitoring the electrical power provided to atleast one of the plurality of real estate properties 122, 124, 126. Aportion of the electrical power is provided to at least one of theplurality of real estate properties 122, 124, 126 from a source 130other than the cooperative power farm 116. The monitoring may beperformed via wired or wireless communication, or may include Internetconnectivity. The power farm 116 may also include an inverter 132. Theat least one real estate property 122, 124, 126 may include a connection134 to a public utility company 130, a connection 136 to the creditmetering system 120, and a connection 138 to the grid 118. Additionally,the system 100 may include a power usage alert for updating a residentof the plurality of real estate properties 122, 124, 126 if a powerusage spike is detected. The system 100 may also include a severeweather input coupled to the at least one electrical power generator forplacing the generator in a stand-by state to reduce possible damage dueto severe weather, and a solar panel having a resilient backing, whereinthe resilient backing is turned toward the severe weather.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of a system 200 fordistributing alternatively generated power to a real estate developmentis shown having at least one alternative energy power generator 210, 212forming a cooperative power farm 213. A distribution station 214receives power from the cooperative power farm, and a metering creditsystem 216 determines a metered credit of power received by thedistribution station 214 from the cooperative power farm. A plurality ofreal estate properties 218, 220, 222 are coupled via power distributionlines 224, 226, 228 to the distribution station 214. The plurality ofreal estate properties 218, 220, 222 receives at least a portion of themetered credit of power. Rights to the portion of the metered credit arelinked to or included with ownership of at least one of the plurality ofreal estate properties 218, 220, 222.

The power received from the cooperative power farm 213 may be in theform of a hydrogen bearing gas or a hydrocarbon gas, such as methane212, natural gas 210, or the like, or power may be received in the formof electricity. The portion of the metered credit provides a quantity ofpower at least partially determined by one or more of a percentage ofthe power generated by the cooperative power farm 213, a number of unitsof metered credit or the like, an area of the real estate property orthe like, and an initial payment. The rights to the portion of themetered credit may be optional.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a third embodiment of a system 300 fordistributing alternatively generated power to a real estate developmentis shown, wherein the real estate development has at least twoindividual properties 310, 312, 314. The system 300 includes at leastone alternative energy power generator 316, 318, a distribution station320 having a connection 322 to the at least one alternative energy powergenerator 316, 318, and a plurality of real estate properties 310, 312,314 coupled via power distribution lines 324, 326, 328 to thedistribution station 320. An instrument 330 associates ownership rightsin a portion of the power received from the alternative energy powergenerator 316, 318 with ownership of at least one of the plurality ofreal estate properties 310, 312, 314. Ownership rights in the portion ofthe power may be inseparably tied to ownership of the real estateproperties 310, 312, 314, severable from ownership of the real estateproperties 310, 312, 314, or the like.

The portion of power described in the instrument 330 provides a quantityof power at least partially calculated or determined by a percentage ofpower generated by the at least one alternative energy power generator316, 318, a number of power units of power generated by the at least onealternative energy power generator 316, 318, equal distribution of powergenerated by the at least one alternative energy power generator 316,318 to each of the at least two individual properties 310, 312, 314, anarea of each of the at least two individual properties 310, 312, 314,and an initial payment associated with at least one of the at least twoindividual properties 310, 312, 314. Additionally, the portion of theinstrument 330 associating ownership rights of the portion of power withthe ownership rights of the at least two individual properties 310, 312,314 may be optional.

The system 300 may also include a written instrument granting ownershiprights 332 in the at least one alternative energy power generator 316,318, an instrument granting ownership rights 340 in the distributionstation 320 and electrical power distribution lines 324, 326, 328, andan instrument granting ownership rights 334, 336, 338 in the electricalpower distribution lines 324, 326, 328. As used herein, a writteninstrument can be a paper or electronic writing. Further, the instrumentmay optionally contain restrictions that prevent encumbrance of theenergy portion without encumbrance of the real property portion, or mayallow for the encumbrance as a separate right.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a fourth embodiment of a system 400 fordistributing alternatively generated power to a real estate developmentis shown, wherein the real estate development has at least twoindividual properties 410, 412, 414. The system 400 includes at leastone alternative energy power generator 416, 418, a distribution station420 having a connection 422 to the at least one alternative energy powergenerator 416, 418, and a plurality of real estate properties 410, 412,414 coupled via power distribution lines 424, 426, 428 to thedistribution station 420. A written instrument 430 associates ownershiprights in a portion 432 of the power received from the alternativeenergy power generator with ownership rights 434, 436, 438 of at leastone of the plurality of real estate properties 410, 412, 414. Thealternative energy power generator 416, 418 may be hydrogen bearing gasor hydrocarbon gas such as methane or natural gas.

FIGS. 5-23 are flow diagrams that illustrate the steps of preferredmethod embodiments of distributing alternatively generated power to areal estate development and include a number of blocks or modules thatmay be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, and/or thecombination of software, hardware, and/or firmware.

Referring to FIG. 5, a first preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 500 isdepicted and includes generating 510 alternative energy electrical powerfrom a cooperative power farm and receiving 512 electrical power fromthe cooperative power farm by a power grid. A credit of power receivedby the power grid from the cooperative power farm is metered 514 anddistributed 516 to at least one of a plurality of real estate propertieselectrically coupled to the power grid. The plurality of real estateproperties receives at least a portion of the credit of power. Rights tothe portion of the metered credit are linked or included with ownershipof the at least one of the plurality of real estate properties.

FIG. 6 shows a second preferred embodiment of distributing alternativelygenerated power to a real estate development 600 that includes providing610 a remote site and a plurality of real estate properties. The remotesite is not adjacent to the plurality of real estate properties.Alternative energy electrical power is generated 612 from a cooperativepower farm positioned at the remote site. Electrical power from thecooperative power farm is received 614 by a power grid. A credit ofpower received by the power grid from the cooperative power farm ismetered 616 and distributed 618 to at least one of the plurality of realestate properties electrically coupled to the power grid. The pluralityof real estate properties receives at least a portion of the credit ofpower. Rights to the portion of the metered credit are linked orincluded with ownership of the at least one of the plurality of realestate properties.

FIG. 7 depicts a third preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 700 thatincludes providing 710 a proximate site and a plurality of real estateproperties. The proximate site is adjacent to the plurality of realestate properties. Alternative energy electrical power is generated 712from a cooperative power farm. Electrical power from the cooperativepower farm is received 714 by a power grid. A credit of power receivedby the power grid from the cooperative power farm is metered 716 anddistributed 718 to at least one of a plurality of real estate propertieselectrically coupled to the power grid. The plurality of real estateproperties receives at least a portion of the credit of power. Rights tothe portion of the metered credit are included with ownership of the atleast one of the plurality of real estate properties.

Referring to FIG. 8, a fourth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 800 isdepicted and includes generating 810 alternative energy electrical powerfrom a cooperative power farm. Electrical power from the cooperativepower farm is received 812 by a power grid. A credit of power receivedby the power grid from the cooperative power farm is metered 814 anddistributed 816 to at least one of a plurality of real estate propertieselectrically coupled to the power grid. The plurality of real estateproperties receives at least a portion of the credit of power. Rights tothe portion of the metered credit are included with ownership of the atleast one of the plurality of real estate properties. An Internetfeedback system is updated 818, showing available credit for at leastone of the plurality of real estate properties. An Internet statussystem is also updated 820 for power generation efficiency.

FIG. 9 shows a fifth preferred embodiment of distributing alternativelygenerated power to a real estate development 900 that includes providing910 a plurality of real estate properties, providing 912 an alternativeenergy power generator that forms a cooperative power farm coupled to adistribution station, and metering 914 a credit of power provided fromthe cooperative power farm to the distribution station. Rights to aportion of the metered credit are included 916 with ownership of atleast one of the plurality of real estate properties.

FIG. 10 depicts a sixth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 1000 thatincludes providing 1010 a remote site, providing 1012 a plurality ofreal estate properties, and providing 1014 an alternative energy powergenerator which forms a cooperative power farm that is coupled to adistribution station. The remote cooperative power farm is positioned onthe remote site, which is not adjacent to the plurality of real estateproperties. A credit of power provided from the cooperative power farmto the distribution station is metered 1016. Rights to a portion of themetered credit are included 1018 with ownership of at least one of theplurality of real estate properties.

Referring to FIG. 11, a seventh preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 1100 isdepicted and includes providing 1110 a proximate site, providing 1112 aplurality of real estate properties, and providing 1114 an alternativeenergy power generator which forms a cooperative power farm that iscoupled to a distribution station. The cooperative power farm ispositioned on the proximate site, which is adjacent to the plurality ofreal estate properties. A credit of power provided from the cooperativepower farm to the distribution station is metered 1116. Rights to aportion of the metered credit are included 1118 with ownership of atleast one of the plurality of real estate properties.

FIG. 12 shows an eighth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 1200 thatincludes providing 1210 a plurality of real estate properties, providing1212 an alternative energy power generator which forms a cooperativepower farm that is coupled to a distribution station, and metering 1214a credit of power provided from the cooperative power farm to thedistribution station. Rights to a portion of the metered credit areincluded 1216 with ownership of at least one of the plurality of realestate properties. A power delivery to at least one of the plurality ofreal estate properties is sensed 1218 and a difference between themetered power delivery to the distribution station from the cooperativepower farm and the sensed power delivery to the at least one of theplurality of real estate properties is determined 1220. At least one ofthe plurality of real estate properties is credited 1222 for meteredpower delivered to the distribution station from the cooperative powerfarm in excess of the sensed power delivered to the at least one of theplurality of real estate properties.

FIG. 13 depicts a ninth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 1300 thatincludes providing 1310 a plurality of real estate properties, providing1312 an alternative energy power generator which forms a cooperativepower farm that is coupled to a distribution station, and metering 1314a credit of power provided from the cooperative power farm to thedistribution station. Rights to a portion of the metered credit areincluded 1316 with ownership of at least one of the plurality of realestate properties. An option is provided 1318 to the at least one of theplurality of real estate properties for a percentage purchase of thepower provided by the cooperative power farm.

Referring to FIG. 14, a tenth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 1400 isdepicted and includes subdividing 1410 the real estate development intoa plurality of plots. A portion of the subdivided real estatedevelopment is dedicated 1412 to alternative energy power generation. Analternative energy power generator is provided 1414, which forms acooperative power farm that is electrically coupled to a power grid.Power is at least in part generated on the dedicated portion. Rights toa portion of an output of the cooperative power farm are included 1416with ownership of at least one of the plurality of plots.

FIG. 15 shows an eleventh preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 1500 thatincludes subdividing 1510 the real estate development into a pluralityof plots. A portion of the subdivided real estate development isdedicated 1512 to alternative energy power generation. An alternativeenergy power generator is provided 1514, which forms a cooperative powerfarm that is electrically coupled to a power grid. Power is at least inpart generated on the dedicated portion. Rights to a portion of anoutput of the cooperative power farm are included 1516 with ownership ofat least one of the plurality of plots. A credit of power provided fromthe cooperative power farm to the power grid is metered 1518.

Referring to FIG. 16, a twelfth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 1600 isdepicted and includes providing 1610 a remote site and subdividing 1612the real estate development into a plurality of plots. The remote siteis not adjacent to the plurality of plots. A portion of the subdividedreal estate development is dedicated 1614 to alternative energy powergeneration. An alternative energy power generator is provided 1616 atthe remote site, which forms a cooperative power farm that iselectrically coupled to a power grid. Power is at least in partgenerated on the dedicated portion. Rights to a portion of an output ofthe cooperative power farm are included 1618 with ownership of at leastone of the plurality of plots.

FIG. 17 shows a thirteenth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 1700 thatincludes providing 1710 a proximate site and subdividing 1712 the realestate development into a plurality of plots. The proximate site isadjacent to the plurality of plots. A portion of the subdivided realestate development is dedicated 1714 to alternative energy powergeneration. An alternative energy power generator is provided 1716 atthe proximate site, which forms a cooperative power farm that iselectrically coupled to a power grid. Power generation is at least inpart generated on the dedicated portion. Rights to a portion of anoutput of the cooperative power farm are included 1718 with ownership ofat least one of the plurality of plots.

FIG. 18 depicts a fourteenth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 1800 thatincludes subdividing 1810 the real estate development into a pluralityof plots, dedicating 1812 a portion of the subdivided real estatedevelopment to alternative energy power generation, and providing 1814an alternative energy power generator that forms a cooperative powerfarm electrically coupled to a power grid. Power is at least in partgenerated on the dedicated portion. Rights to a portion of an output ofthe cooperative power farm are included 1816 with ownership of at leastone of the plurality of plots. An option is provided 1818 to the atleast one of the plurality of plots for a percentage purchase of thepower provided by the cooperative power farm.

Referring to FIG. 19, a fifteenth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 1900 isdepicted and includes acquiring 1910 a dedicated portion within the realestate development and providing 1912 an alternative energy powergenerator that forms a cooperative power farm electrically coupled to apower grid. Power is at least in part generated on the dedicatedportion. A credit of power provided from the cooperative power farm tothe power grid is metered 1914. Rights to a portion of the meteredcredit are included 1916 with ownership of at least one of a pluralityof real estate properties within the real estate development.

FIG. 20 shows a sixteenth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 2000 having aplurality of real estate properties. The method includes providing 2010a remote site that is not adjacent to the plurality of real estateproperties, and acquiring 2012 a dedicated portion within the realestate development. An alternative energy power generator is provided2014 at the remote site, which forms a cooperative power farm that iselectrically coupled to a power grid. Power is at least in partgenerated on the dedicated portion. A credit of power provided from thecooperative power farm to the power grid is metered 2016. Rights to aportion of the metered credit are included 2018 with ownership of atleast one of a plurality of real estate properties within the realestate development.

FIG. 21 depicts a seventeenth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 2100 having aplurality of real estate properties. The method includes providing 2110a proximate site adjacent to the plurality of real estate properties andacquiring 2112 a dedicated portion within the real estate development.An alternative energy power generator is provided 2114 at the proximatesite, which forms a cooperative power farm that is electrically coupledto a power grid. Power is at least in part generated on the dedicatedportion. A credit of power provided from the cooperative power farm tothe power grid is metered 2116. Rights to a portion of the meteredcredit are included 2118 with ownership of at least one of a pluralityof real estate properties within the real estate development.

Referring to FIG. 22, an eighteenth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 2200 isdepicted and includes acquiring 2210 a dedicated portion within the realestate development, and providing 2212 an alternative energy powergenerator, which forms a cooperative power farm that is electricallycoupled to a power grid. Power is at least in part generated on thededicated portion. A credit of power provided from the cooperative powerfarm to the power grid is metered 2214. Rights to a portion of themetered credit are included 2216 with ownership of at least one of aplurality of real estate properties within the real estate development.A power delivery to the at least one of the plurality of real estateproperties is sensed 2218 and a difference between the metered powerdelivery to the power grid from the cooperative power farm and thesensed power delivery to the at least one of the plurality of realestate properties is determined 2220. At least one of the plurality ofreal estate properties is credited 2222 for metered power delivered tothe power grid from the cooperative power farm in excess of the sensedpower delivered to the at least one of the plurality of real estateproperties.

FIG. 23 shows a nineteenth preferred embodiment of distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development 2300 thatincludes acquiring 2310 a dedicated portion within the real estatedevelopment and providing 2312 an alternative energy power generatorthat forms a cooperative power farm electrically coupled to a powergrid. Power is at least in part generated on the dedicated portion. Acredit of power provided from the cooperative power farm to the powergrid is metered 2314. Rights to a portion of the metered credit areincluded 2316 with ownership of at least one of a plurality of realestate properties within the real estate development. An option isprovided 2318 to the at least one of the plurality of real estateproperties for a percentage purchase of the power provided by thecooperative power farm.

FIG. 24 depicts a first software flow block diagram 2400 for a computerreadable media of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development that includes instructions for metering 2410 a creditof power delivered from a cooperative power farm to a power grid andsensing 2412 a power delivery to at least two real estate properties.Rights to a portion of the metered credit are included with ownership ofat least one of the plurality of real estate properties. Furtherinstructions are provided for determining 2414 the difference betweenthe metered credit of power and the sensed power delivery to at leastone of the plurality of real estate properties.

Referring to FIG. 25, a second software flow block diagram 2500 for acomputer readable media of distributing alternatively generated power toa real estate development is depicted and includes instructions formetering 2510 a credit of power delivered from a cooperative power farmto a power grid and sensing 2512 a power delivery to at least two realestate properties. Rights to a portion of the metered credit areincluded with ownership of at least one of the plurality of real estateproperties. Further instructions are provided for determining 2514 thedifference between the metered credit of power and the sensed powerdelivery to at least one of the plurality of real estate properties. Thecomputer readable media also includes instructions for recording 2516the metered credit of power from a cooperative power farm to the powergrid on a time period, averaging 2518 the recorded metered credit ofpower from the cooperative power farm to the power grid for another timeperiod, comparing 2520 the recorded metered credit of power to theaveraged metered credit of power, and alerting 2522 if the comparison isgreater than a predetermined threshold.

FIG. 26 shows a third software flow block diagram 2600 for a computerreadable media of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development that includes instructions for metering 2610 a creditof power delivered from a cooperative power farm to a power grid andsensing 2612 a power delivery to at least two real estate properties.Rights to a portion of the metered credit are included with ownership ofat least one of the plurality of real estate properties. Furtherinstructions are provided for determining 2614 the difference betweenthe metered credit of power and the sensed power delivery to at leastone of the plurality of real estate properties. The computer readablemedia also includes instructions for providing 2616, to an Internetwebsite, a status of the metered credit of power from the cooperativepower farm and providing 2618, to an Internet website, a status of themetered credit of power to at least one of the plurality of real estateproperties.

FIG. 27 depicts a fourth software flow block diagram 2700 for a computerreadable media of distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development that includes instructions for metering 2710 a creditof power delivered from a cooperative power farm to a power grid andsensing 2712 a power delivery to at least two real estate properties.Rights to a portion of the metered credit are included with ownership ofat least one of the plurality of real estate properties. Furtherinstructions are provided for determining 2714 the difference betweenthe metered credit of power and the sensed power delivery to at leastone of the plurality of real estate properties. The computer readablemedia also includes instructions for determining 2716 a cost of thedetermined difference if the use of the sensed power delivery to atleast one of the plurality of real estate properties is greater than themetered credit of power from the cooperative power farm and determining2718 a profit of the determined difference if the metered credit ofpower from the cooperative power farm is greater than the sensed powerdelivery to the at least one of the plurality of real estate properties.

The steps described in the embodiments above are preferably embodied ina computer readable medium or software but may also be embodied infirmware and are utilized via hardware. The transfer of informationoccurs via at least one of a wireless protocol, a wired protocol, andthe combination of the wireless and wired protocols. The steps performedin FIGS. 24-27 are performed by software, hardware, firmware, and/or thecombination of software, hardware, and/or firmware.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoingdetailed description, it will be understood that the invention is notlimited to any embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerousrearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the followingclaims. For example, these capabilities may be performed in the currentmanner or in a distributed manner and on, or via, any device able toprovide and/or receive information. Further, although variousembodiments have been described in relation to electrical energy sourcesthe systems can be used with other types of energy, such as natural gas,without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Further,although depicted in a particular manner, various modules or blocks maybe repositioned without departing from the scope of the currentinvention. Still further, although depicted in a particular manner, agreater or lesser number of modules and connections can be utilized inorder to accomplish the described system, to provide additional knownfeatures to the present embodiments, and/or to make the described systemmore efficient. Also, the information sent between various modules canbe sent between the modules via at least one of a data network, theInternet, an Internet Protocol network, a wireless source, and a wiredsource, and via plurality of protocols.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that embodiments of the presentinvention comprise a system and method for distributing alternativelygenerated power to a real estate development. It will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodimentsdescribed above without departing from the broad inventive conceptthereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limitedto the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to covermodifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1. A system for distributing alternatively generated power to a realestate development, the real estate development having at least twoindividual properties, the system comprising: at least one alternativeenergy power generator; a distribution station coupled to the at leastone alternative energy power generator; the at least two real estateproperties each coupled to the distribution station; and a writteninstrument associating ownership rights in a portion of the powerreceived from the alternative energy power generator with ownership ofat least one of the real estate properties.
 2. The system of claim 1,further comprising: electrical power distribution lines coupling thedistribution station to the at least two individual properties.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the written instrument grants ownershiprights in the electrical power distribution lines.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the ownership rights in the portion of the power areone of inseparably tied to ownership of the real estate properties andseverable from ownership of the real estate properties.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the written instrument grants ownership rights in oneof the alternative energy power generator and the distribution station.6. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the power provides aquantity of power at least partially determined by a percentage of powergenerated by the at least one alternative energy power generator.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the portion of the power provides a quantityof power at least partially determined by a number of power units ofpower generated by the at least one alternative energy power generator.8. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the power provides aquantity of power at least partially determined by equal distribution ofpower generated by the at least one alternative energy power generatorto each of the at least two individual properties.
 9. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the portion of the power provides a quantity of powerat least partially determined by an area of each of the at least twoindividual properties.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion ofthe power provides a quantity of power at least partially determined byan initial payment associated with at least one of the at least twoindividual properties.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion ofthe written instrument associating ownership rights is optional.
 12. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the written instrument contains restrictionspreventing encumbrance of the power received from the alternative energypower generator without encumbrance of at least one of the plurality ofreal estate properties.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the writteninstrument contains restrictions permitting encumbrance of the powerreceived from the alternative energy power generator without encumbranceof the real estate properties.
 14. A method for distributingalternatively generated power to a real estate development comprising:providing a plurality of real estate properties; providing analternative energy power generator that forms a cooperative power farmcoupled to a distribution station; metering a credit of power providedfrom the cooperative power farm to the distribution station; andincluding rights to a portion of the metered credit with ownership of atleast one of the plurality of real estate properties.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising: sensing a power delivery to at least oneof the plurality of real estate properties.
 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising: determining a difference between the metered powerdelivery to the distribution station from the cooperative power farm andthe sensed power delivery to the at least one of the plurality of realestate properties.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:crediting at least one of the plurality of real estate properties formetered power delivered to the distribution station from the cooperativepower farm in excess of the sensed power delivered to the at least oneof the plurality of real estate properties.
 18. The method of claim 14,wherein the power received from the cooperative power farm is in theform of a hydrocarbon gas.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the gasis one of methane and natural gas.
 20. The method of claim 14, whereinthe power received from the cooperative power farm is in the form of oneof a hydrogen bearing gas and electricity.
 21. The method of claim 14,further comprising: positioning the cooperative power farm at a remotesite that is not adjacent to the plurality of real estate properties.22. The method of claim 14, further comprising: positioning thecooperative power farm at a proximate site that is adjacent to theplurality of real estate properties.
 23. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: providing an option to the at least one of the plurality ofreal estate properties for a percentage purchase of the power providedby the cooperative power farm.